Brethren of the Brick Seas (BoBS) Introduction and Starting Thread

[Bregir]

To supplement CG's comment. To be licensable, I would say that it has to be a property, so to speak. Meaning that a naturalist catching butterflies in the forest is not licensable, unless it is a veritable butterfly farm or voliere.

[Kwatchi]

11 hours ago, kurigan said:

What is/constitutes and "educational build"?

I have personally gone with a loosy goosy definition of "a place where specific knowledge or training is given", but the fact of the matter is as long as you are trying to stay in the spirit of things no one is going to jump on you.  It is far more enjoyable to be inspired to build something and then apply a best-case license type afterwards, rather than being given a strict category and trying to be inspired by it.

[gedren_y]

My free license was Education: The Midori Observatory

[kurigan]

So its the characters in the game getting an education, not the players/spectators then, yes?

The latter seemed a bit odd, being a fantasy universe, but that's the first thing that came to mind.

[Captain Genaro]

19 hours ago, kurigan said:

So its the characters in the game getting an education, not the players/spectators then, yes?

Correct.

[Brandon Stark]

I may have made a mistake when licensing my latest property. Instead of marking "factory", I probably marked "residence". There is no "Edit" option, but is there another way to fix this? Do I need to contact a regulator or moderator? Oh, and the build is here. 

[dr_spock]

17 minutes ago, Brandon Stark said:

I may have made a mistake when licensing my latest property. Instead of marking "factory", I probably marked "residence". There is no "Edit" option, but is there another way to fix this? Do I need to contact a regulator or moderator? Oh, and the build is here. 

It appears that you did select residence instead of factory.  @Phred can update it in the spreadsheet if I am not mistaken.

Brandon Stark

Oleon

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/146572-ol-fb4-eltina-miscellaneous-factory/

Residence

Small

Eltina

[Captain Genaro]

1 hour ago, Brandon Stark said:

I may have made a mistake when licensing my latest property. Instead of marking "factory", I probably marked "residence". There is no "Edit" option, but is there another way to fix this? Do I need to contact a regulator or moderator? Oh, and the build is here. 

• Fixed. You can make a note in the Account Summary topic for any future errors that need to be corrected.

[Capn Frank]

On ‎2‎/‎3‎/‎2017 at 10:36 PM, Captain Genaro said:

• Fixed. You can make a note in the Account Summary topic for any future errors that need to be corrected.

Thank you for taking care of it Captain Genaro.

[Legostone]

Considering both Mardier and Garvey now have some balance in their accounts, shouldn't they also have to pay upkeep for their fleets? ;)

[Ayrlego]

I remember somewhere seeing a discussion about NPC troops, but can't seem to find it again anywhere!

Anyway it, and Challenge V got me thinking about how Mardierian troops may look. I also seem to remember somewhere that Mardier's colour was yellow? Again I can't find any official reference to that except the fact they are yellow on the maps!

Anyway here is my first attempt at some custom torsos that I will most likely be using in Challenge V. (Note: Eslandolans, don't be getting all dramatic, I haven't yet decided which side I will be entering for, but will probably do some entries for both... )

[Kwatchi]

14 hours ago, Ayrlego said:

Those look really sharp.  Nice job.

Edited February 11, 2017 by Kwatchi

[blackdeathgr]

Very nice custom ones! I wouldn't tell the difference If i haven't already known.

[Sir Stig]

@Ayrlego, I think I know what post you are referring to, and I have also looked for it. They looked great, as do your troops.  We should have them under a resource page (in Master Index), with this lore.

[Legostone]

I think you could mean this post, if you are looking for yellow-compatible Marderian uniforms.

[Sir Stig]

1 hour ago, Legostone said:

I think you could mean this post, if you are looking for yellow-compatible Marderian uniforms.

That's the one. Thanks!

[Elostirion]

@Phred and @SkaForHire: I don't understand the settlement rules and I feel there are some contradictions within the settlement rules and between settlement rules and account balance sheet. Step-by-step:

Link to the thread

 

1) Question: What is the meaning of "level" of a settlement? Does it have any impact?

2) Question: Raid worth: Imagine a Town has a total of 200 DBs in its coffers and is successfully raided: 30% of that = 60 DBs are being raided. A Large Town has a total of 200 DBs in its coffers and is successfully raided: 40% of that = 80 DBs are being raided. Correct?

3) Question: Trade Value Modifier: For a Town it's 80%, for a Large Town it's 70%. Let's imagine our settlement has 300 DBs Trade Value (e.g. 20 large properties) before the modifier. If it is a Town 80% = 240 DBs are the actual Trade Value that comes into effect in the MRCA? And if it's a Large Town only 70% of this = 210 DBs are the actual Trade Value that comes into effect in the MRCA? Is this correct? And if so: Why does it become worse the larger a settlement becomes?

4) Suggestion: Is there any benefit for a settlement with a high Trade Value? Shouldn't there be some kind of bonus for settlements from the MRCA? For example for every ship that visits this town the town earns 5 DBs (harbour tax)? Or 2% of the money earned by the ship. I know there is quite a high incentive on a faction-level for high trade values, but for the town itself there isn't, right?

5) Question & Suggestion: Militia Size: What does that militia do? And what does a value of 2 for a City mean? These are basically like troops? Wouldn't it make more sense to calculate militia just like "free troops" based on norma land-troops?

6) Question: Parity-rules: So let us imagine a settlement has 70 property-points licensed, and thus falls into the "City" category. However it has only one medium educational property (and no other educational properties), so it does not meet the parity requirements. Then the negative effects (Raid Worth % of Town Bank and Trade Value Modifier) come into effect, however the positive effects (Number of Forts allowed, Militia size, natural growth rate, mayor payment) do not. Is this correct?

7) Suggestion: If this is correct we should have some way in the account sheet to see it.

8) Suggestion: The account sheet columns should reflect the columns of the thread even more I suggest.

9) Question & Suggestion: Natural Growth Rate (NGR). To my best knowledge the thread does not talk about the actual effect of NGR. X% of total # of properties, as residences, yes. Small, medium or large residences? Do these residences affect: Town Bank income, Trade Value, Settlement Size? I suggest they should influence all three values, however to my best knowledge they do not affect Town Bank income (why?), they do affect Trade Value, and I do not know about settlement size. It definitely should be clarified. Again, as a mayor this should bring in some benefit, right?

10) Suggestion: Natural Growth Rate should be reflected in the Account Sheet (is it even implemented there?)

11) Suggestion: Town Bank income: Why is it 5 DBs for every property? Building 20 small residences would yield 100 DBs per month for the Town Bank. Building 10 Royal Factories would yield 50 DBs for the Town Bank. I don't think that's the best way, is it? My suggestion would be to have this dependent on the size at least (just like trade value and count towards settlement size). For example: Freebuild/MRCA-result/...: 2 DBs. Small: 3 DBs. Medium: 5 DBs. Large: 8 DBs. Royal: 15 DBs. Mine: 6 DBs. If that's too much in total, numbers might be tuned down to 1-2-4-6-10-4 or sth.

12) Suggestion: Remove the Civil Servant. I think everyone in this game is creative enough to use DBs to hire someone for whatever he or she wants them do to. In the thread it's only confusing. (Also I really don't see why town administration is such an effort to hire additional people currently).

13) Suggestion: Please validate if all the Town Bank rules are implented correctly into the Account sheet. Breshaun: 310 DBs income, 140 DBs coffers -> 45,2%. Charlatan Bay: 67.5/150 = 45%. Fatu Hiva: 10/25=40%, Lavalette: 2,5/30=8,3% (?!), Pontelli: 62,5/115=54,3%. Nova Terreli:107,5/215=50%. Shouldn't it be 50% for every settlement? Seems like too much income for: Astrapi, Breshaun, Charlatan Bay, Eltina, Elizabethville, Elysabethtown, Fatu Hiva, Fuerte Unido, King's Harbour, Lavalette, Montario, Mooreton Bay, Quinnsville, Rassilon, Salida Este, Trador, Weelond, Windfall Island. Pontelli seems to be the only settlement that earns less than it should.

14) Mistake: The example for "New Belson" is incorrect. 150 DBs, 30% of those are raided (45 DBs) => 105 DBs left. The example says 100 DBs.

15) Question: Now what I really don't understand are the coffers rules. Let me have an example:
15a) New Belson (Large Town) has a total of 50 properties licensed => 250 DBs monthly income. Let's assume coffers and town bank are at 0 when we start. Let's assume no raid happens. 50% of the 250 DBs go to the coffers, 50% is available for the major. So the mayor has 125 DBs available and decides to donate them all to his country.
15b) Next month New Belson starts with 125 DBs in its coffers. Again 250 DBs income => Coffers are now at 250 DBs, again 125 DBs available to the mayor. This time he only donates 25 DBs to his country and keeps the other 100 DBs. Again no raid.
15c) Next month New Belson starts with 100 DBs and has 250 DBs income again. According to the example in the settlement thread this would be added up to 350 DBs, which would then be divided between coffers (175 DBs added, so 425 DBs total now), and thus only 175 DBs would be available to the mayor. That means from any money the major saves until next month, 50% will vanish from the town and go to the coffers. However this is not how the account sheet works. In the account sheet the 100 DBs are still available to the major, and the 250 DBs are divided betwen available and coffers, so that the coffers will be at 375 DBs, and the major would have 225 DBs available. This is a contradiction.
15d) Let us assume the account sheet is correct. Now let us assume a raid is successful: Large Town, Raid worth is 40%. What does the attacker get? Does he get:
15d.I) 40% of the 100 DBs the major saved last month, 40% of the 250 DBs income, and 40% of the money that had already been stored in the coffers (250 DBs)? So the attacker would get a total of 240 DBs? So the coffers would only remain at 150 DBs, 60 DBs from last month would still be available, and 150 DBs income -> Coffers go to 225 DBs, and major has 135 DBs available.
15d.II) Only 40% from the money in the coffers before this month's incme? (so 40% of 250 = 100 DBs for the attacker)
15d.III) Only 40% of the money in the coffers after this month's income? (so 40% of 375 = 150 DBs for the attacker)
15d.IV) Only 40% of all the money available outside the coffers (so 40% of 100 DBs and 40% of half the income (125 DBs) = a total of 90 DBs to the attacker)
15d.V) Only 40% of this months income. Both coffers and last month's savings stay untouched (so 100 DBs for the attacker)

16) Suggestion: Please take out the coffer rules. I don't understand them at all, they make things overly complicated, and there are definitely contradictions between the thread and the account sheet. There is a Town Bank income, and 50% of this are available to the major. Easy. Or even better: reduce the Town Bank income to 50% of what it is now so that 100% of the monthly income are available to the mayor. Easy rules, easy game.

17) Suggestion: If we need the coffer rules to make raiding more attractive I suggest to simplify the rules.
17a) Income: Town Bank income as described above, 100% of that income is available to the major to use as he wishes. He can save money so that he has more available next month, and so on. In case of a raid this money is ready for the taking, modified by Raid Worth %. So if the major has saved 200 DBs and earns 60 DBs this month with his Large Town (total of 260 DBs), and a raid is successful, this raid will take 40% of 260 = 104 DBs, so that only 156 DBs are left for the major to spend for his town.
18b) Raiding: Now let us assume that raiding 104 DBs from a town is really not worth it (compared to a trade run or sth., on which I agree). We might add a rule that a Raider does not only get 40% of the money that is available, but also steals money from the citizens/properties/... This value could either be calculated based on trade value, or could equal the total monthly income (in this case 60 DBs), or any other source or way of calculation.
18c) I really just want to have the coffer rule deleted and replaced by something simple that fulfills the same purpose.

18) Suggestion: Why shouldn't a raid decrease property income in that town in that month? For example if Nova Terreli is raided, why souldn't they raid my factory, so that instead of 15 DBs yield I only get 5 DBs in this month, or maybe nothing at all?

19) Suggestion: Mayor payment should be paid by the Town Bank instead of coming from thin air.

20) Thoughts: Currently I see no benefit in having a fort. Imagine I spend all the money that is available every month (or even better just transfer it to my private pockets which cannot be raided, and then after the MRCA transfer it back). Even for Nova Terreli (let's leave out the free Royal Fort for now), the second richest town, monthly income will only be 108 DBs. If it's a City 50% of the Town Bank will be available for raiding, so after a successful raid 54 DBs would be gone. Upkeep for a Large Fort is 60 DBs per month. Even if there are multiple raids and all the money is stolen, that's only 108 DBs and still less than the upkeep of two Large Forts. Really no incentive in additional forts right now, is there? With e.g. 18) forts would make much more sense...

21) Question: Why don't the starting fortresses cost any upkeep? That is horrible for Corrington, and great for Eslandola... So IC I like it, but OOC I feel it's unfair.

22) Suggestion: Some more explanation on how the Fort-Stats work would be great.

23) Question: What happens if there are multiple raids on a town in the same month? First come first serve? Imagine we have 200 DBs available for raiding in a Large Town. Will the first raider take 40% = 80 DBs, and the second raider will take 40% of the remainder (120 DBs) = 48 DBs? Or will the second one also take 80 DBs? Or will the 40% be split between the two? Really, what will happen then?

 

And don't get me wrong. I love the game, and I love the in-depth rulesets. However I also really like the recent changes which brought additional clarity and simplification while still keeping all the mechanics intact. I would love to have the same for Town Banks, which I think are and have been the most unclear rules in the game and haven't been changed so far.

Also all those things above are only suggestions, and maybe I just didn't understand some of the rules. Looking forward to some discussion on this topic.

Edited February 12, 2017 by Elostirion

[Mike S]

An updated map of all rumored lands has begun to circulate among the sea captains of the Prio Seas. Whether it is accurate or not is a matter of speculation.

[Maxim I]

36 minutes ago, Mike S said:

An updated map of all rumored lands has begun to circulate among the sea captains of the Prio Seas. Whether it is accurate or not is a matter of speculation.

Great! 

Just wondering, does this mean there are no islands north or south of the discovered islands?

[Mike S]

3 minutes ago, Maxim I said:

Great! 

Just wondering, does this mean there are no islands north or south of the discovered islands?

I'm positive there are but the explorers are traveling east to try and circumnavigate the world. Once the exploring function is put into the game, we should be able to sail north or south to try to discover new islands if we wish.

Edit: Note that there is also a land mass/masses south of The Lowers that has not been mapped yet.

Edited February 12, 2017 by Mike S

[Elostirion]

@Mike S: Fantastic map! The island in the east (Arlintina) seems cut in half unintentionally? Also when it says miles, does 1 mile equal 1,6 km? Or 1 mile = 1 km?

 

[Mike S]

26 minutes ago, Elostirion said:

@Mike S: Fantastic map! The island in the east (Arlintina) seems cut in half unintentionally? Also when it says miles, does 1 mile equal 1,6 km? Or 1 mile = 1 km?

 

What?! You haven't heard of the great Arlintina canal, one of the greatest feats of engineering to date? Arlintina is such a Corrington name so it figures Arlintina is just as technologically advanced.

The scale is in miles so 1 mile would be approximately 1.6 km.

[Kwatchi]

Great map again Mike.  Remind me to trick you/hire you to do my colony map when you're not paying attention. :)

I'm a little concerned that we've run out of players to start new colonies at this point, which is wasting all this potential.  Everyone established themselves early on the western edge, and starting new is pretty daunting.

 

[Mike S]

40 minutes ago, Kwatchi said:

Great map again Mike.  Remind me to trick you/hire you to do my colony map when you're not paying attention. :)

I'm a little concerned that we've run out of players to start new colonies at this point, which is wasting all this potential.  Everyone established themselves early on the western edge, and starting new is pretty daunting.

 

Thanks, but to be honest, all I'm doing is putting the map pieces back together again. Personally I'm happy to have plenty of unclaimed land on the map and I think it makes sense IC for it to take a while to get colonized. I am curious however about the new named islands. Are they new NPC nations or have they been claimed by the four player nations?

[Ayrlego]

All: Is there a settlement thread for King's Port? I can't find one. I'd be happy to coordinate making one if we feel it is required, noting that (hopefully) there will soon be an influx of Ch5A builds set in King's Port....

Also are there any restrictions on licensing properties in King's Port?